Role in IT decision-making process:Align Business & IT GoalsCreate IT StrategyDetermine IT NeedsManage Vendor RelationshipsEvaluate/Specify Brands or VendorsOther RoleAuthorize PurchasesNot Involved

Work Phone:

Company:

Company Size:

Industry:

Street Address

City:

Zip/postal code

State/Province:

Country:

Occasionally, we send subscribers special offers from select partners. Would you like to receive these special partner offers via e-mail?YesNo

Your registration with Eweek will include the following free email newsletter(s):News & Views

By submitting your wireless number, you agree that eWEEK, its related properties, and vendor partners providing content you view may contact you using contact center technology. Your consent is not required to view content or use site features.

By clicking on the "Register" button below, I agree that I have carefully read the Terms of Service and the Privacy Policy and I agree to be legally bound by all such terms.

The SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 SE is a stackable 10/100M-bps LAN device with limited network management features that can be upgraded through software patches with such advanced features as Layer 4 traffic prioritization.

In addition, traffic optimization for voice traffic can be established by using the switch in conjunction with 3Coms NBX IP-based business telephone solution.

3Com already sells SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 family switches in 24- and 48-port models with software installed for enhanced traffic management. Out of the box, these can prioritize voice traffic or block gaming traffic on the local network, 3Com officials said.

Further reading

However, some customers are satisfied with simple wire-speed capabilities and what amounts to Layer 2 switching without multilayer traffic prioritization.

Ed Krusinski, a network specialist at the National Cancer Institute, in Frederick, Md., has tested the SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 SE as an option for the agencys LAN. Since the agency upgraded its network over the past two years using 3Com switches, its peak usage has been no more than 10 percent of the networks capacity, Krusinski said. So where it might need an additional switch to adjust for changes in desktop users, it wouldnt need advanced traffic management capabilities, he said.

"Right now, it would be nice to get in at a lower price since we wouldnt use that feature at this point anyway," Krusinski said.

3Com officials in Santa Clara, Calif., said adding the software features later would be more expensive than buying a fully configured switch out of the box. A SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 with 24 ports and software pre-loaded is priced at $1,595, whereas the SE switch without the software is priced at $1,295, and the software upgrade costs $495.

The SuperStack 3 Switch 4400 SE is available now. The software upgrade is expected to be available in the second half of this year.

By submitting your information, you agree that eweek.com may send you eWEEK offers via email, phone and text message, as well as email offers about other products and services that eWEEK believes may be of interest to you. eWEEK will process your information in accordance with the Quinstreet Privacy Policy.

We ran into a problem

We already have your email address on file. Please use the "Forgot your password?" link to create a password, validate your email and login.